Watford Grammar School for Boys

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a school where pupils excel. It is a remarkably friendly and welcoming school.

Pupils are enthusiastic learners. They value how teachers are highly ambitious for them. Pupils rise to the challenges their teachers set them and produce high-quality work.

They thrive in the nurturing culture that staff have created. Their excellent attitudes enable them to make the most of the school's exceptional facilities and opportunities on offer. Pupils are proud of their school and their achievements.

Pupils' behaviour is superb. Classrooms and corridors are calm. Pupils are polite and demonstrate exemplary manners.

They say that they do not worry about b...ullying as adults will help if others are unkind to them. Pupils who find it harder to manage their feelings, or who struggle with their work, get effective support.

Pupils love the wide range of exciting visits, visitors and clubs provided for them.

Pupils excel in sport and music. There are numerous opportunities for pupils to explore new interests and build self-confidence and resilience.

By the time pupils leave school, they are exceedingly well prepared for adult life.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders, including governors, provide inspirational leadership. There is a relentless determination to ensure that all pupils achieve the best they can. Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the school's leadership and enjoy working at the school.

They value the extensive training and developmental opportunities provided.

The school provides an exceptional quality of education for its pupils. Subject leaders and teachers have expert subject knowledge.

Teachers use the latest educational research to inform their planning. Teachers use these plans to teach lessons that build on pupils' prior learning. The curriculum is purposeful and ambitious.

Pupils develop deep insights into their subjects through discussion and debate. They delight in this challenge. Teachers make regular checks on how well pupils are doing.

They spot misconceptions quickly and give pupils good advice on how to deepen their understanding.

The curriculum meets the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils with SEND are well supported so that they are fully involved in school life.

Staff make expert use of information in pupils' education, health and care plans to decide the best way for each pupil to learn. Pupils with SEND, and disadvantaged pupils, progress exceptionally well in the curriculum.

In the sixth form, leaders have high expectations of students.

Most of them go on to the university of their choice. The curriculum meets the needs of all students extremely well. Students are provided with a wide range of enrichment activities beyond academic study.

Students lead their own clubs and societies. Students are extremely positive about their education and they say that they are very well supported in the sixth form.

Pupils have a great thirst for learning.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent. Expectations of pupils are clear and consistent. Pupils show respect to their friends, teachers and visitors.

They approach all aspects of life with high levels of maturity. Pupils have respectful relationships with staff. These contribute strongly to pupils' highly positive attitudes to learning.

Leaders prioritise pupils' well-being. Excellent pastoral care is well established. Pastoral leaders and tutors get to know pupils well and monitor closely how well they are doing.

This ensures that pupils attend regularly, behave well and know whom to talk to if they have any concerns. Pupils' personal development is promoted well through an extensive programme focusing on their personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, and on their well-being. They understand deeply why it is important to treat everyone equally.

All secure their next steps.

The school offers a multitude of extra-curricular opportunities. Debating, chess, mathematics competitions, competitive sport and music are areas in which the school enjoys a national reputation.

Leaders organise many educational visits and activities that enhance the curriculum.

Students receive high-quality, impartial advice about careers and future study. The vast majority are inspired and motivated to fulfil their potential.

Some pupils go on to sixth-form college to study appropriate courses they are interested in. The overwhelming majority who study in the sixth form go on to study at highly respected universities. The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.

Governors, who are also trustees, bring a range of essential qualities and experiences to their role. They carry out their statutory duties diligently. To illustrate, governors are tenacious in their analysis of the school's progress.

They use this information to hold leaders to account.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding.

Leaders make the necessary checks when appointing new staff. Leaders make sure that the well-being of every pupil is of the highest importance. Staff are diligent when it comes to their safeguarding responsibilities.

All incidents are recorded systematically. Any concerns about pupils' safety or welfare are swiftly reported and promptly followed up by the safeguarding team. They work efficiently with external professionals to make sure that pupils get the help they need.

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